Freightliner began production of the Freightliner Cascadia 113 natural gas-powered tractors in August 2013, and these Con-way Freight units are the first Cascadia day cabs with factory-installed compressed natural gas (CNG) tanks to hit the road.
Con-way Freight has deployed the new Cascadia 113 tractors, equipped with the Cummins Westport ISX 12 G engine, in the Texas market where the company will evaluate their performance in real-world fleet operations. It is the second deployment of Freightliner CNG-powered units for Con-way Freight, which since 2011 has operated Freightliner medium-duty tractors, powered by the Cummins Westport ISL G 8.9 liter engine, on a test basis in the Chicago market.
“Freightliner has been an excellent partner as we have explored how natural gas-powered trucks fare in our operating environment,” said Randy Mullett, Con-way’s vice president of government relations and public affairs. “These new units will allow us to expand our knowledge base, particularly with respect to how the larger CNG-powered engines perform in our line-haul network.”
“We believe natural gas has a viable future for heavy-duty commercial freight operations like ours,” Mullett continued. “As the infrastructure matures and the units become more cost competitive, we expect the opportunities for expanded use will increase.”
“We’re proud to see our first Cascadia CNG tractors with factory-installed fuel tanks join the ranks of one of the most reputable, top fleets in the nation,” said Steve Mignardi, Freightliner Trucks Director of National Accounts. “Con-way Freight has been a longtime partner and we look forward to working together as sustainable fuel technology continues to evolve.”
Freightliner Trucks’ commitment to providing green technologies is one part of parent company Daimler AG’s global Shaping Future Transportation initiative.
Freightliner Trucks is a division of Daimler Trucks North America LLC, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, and is the leading heavy-duty truck manufacturer in North America. Daimler Trucks North America produces and markets Class 4-8 trucks and is a Daimler company, the world's leading commercial vehicle manufacturer.
For more information about Freightliner Trucks, go to www.freightlinertrucks.com.
